Belize

Belize is a small nation on the eastern coast of Central America, on the Caribbean Sea bordered by Mexico to the northwest and Guatemala to the west and south. The country is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy which recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as Sovereign. The nation of Honduras is a near neighbour, 75 km away (47 miles) across the Gulf of Honduras to the east. The name is derived from the Belize River which Belize City, the former capital and largest city, is also named after. In Spanish it is usually called Belice. Belize was a British colony for more than a century, known as British Honduras, until 1973. It became an independent nation in 1981. Belize is a member of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Sistema de Integracion Centro Americana (SICA) and considers itself to be both Caribbean, and Central American.

History

Main article: History of Belize

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The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about AD 900.

Related Topics:
Maya civilization - 1500 BC - 300 - 900

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The first Europeans arrived in the area in the early 16th century and settlement began with British privateers and shipwrecked English seamen as early as1638.

Related Topics:
Europe - 16th century - English - 1638

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The origin of the name Belize is unclear but one explanation is that it derives from the Spanish pronunciation of Wallace, the name of the pirate who created the first settlement in Belize in 1638. Another possibility is that the name is from the Maya word belix, meaning "muddy water", applied to the Belize River.

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The early "settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras" grew from a few habitations located at Belize Town and St George's Caye,into a de-facto colony of the United Kingdom during the late 18th. In the early 19th century, under the name of British Honduras, the settlement became a Crown Colony in 1862.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - 18th - 19th century - 1862

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British Honduras became a self-governing colony beginning in January 1964 and was renamed Belize in June 1973; it was Britain's last colony on the American mainland. George Price led the country to full independence in September 1981 after delays caused by territorial disputes with neighbouring Guatemala, which did not formally recognise the country until 1992.

Related Topics:
Self-governing colony - 1964 - 1973 - George Price - 1981 - Guatemala - 1992

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Hurricane Hattie inflicted significant damage upon Belize in 1961. The government decided that having a coastal capital city that is below sea level was too much of a risk. Over the course of several years the British colonial government designed a new city at the exact geographic centre of the country, and in 1970 began the slow process of moving the governing offices to the capital of Belmopan.

Related Topics:
1961 - 1970 - Belmopan

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Throughout Belize's history, Guatemala has claimed ownership of all or part of the territory. This claim is occasionally reflected in maps showing Belize as Guatemala's most eastern province. As of 2005, the border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved.

Related Topics:
Guatemala - 2005

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